Lady Ada Lovelace: Lady Ada Lovelace Augusta Ada Bryon, Countess of Lovelace
computer pioneer
1815-1852
Who Was Ada?: Who Was Ada? enchantress of numbers
prophet of the computer age
the world’s first hacker
mother of computer revolution
interpreter for Charles Babbage
Ada and Her Parents: Ada and Her Parents
Mother, Anne Milbanke, amateur mathematician, 'Princess of Parallelograms'
Father, Lord Bryon, poet 'temperamental, passionate, and somewhat crazed'
Lord Bryon
Ada as a Child: Ada as a Child born early 1800s in England
upper-class kid doing upper-class things
mathematical aptitude recognized and encouraged by mom
age 13 made plans for plane powered by steam
Ada as a Mathematician: Ada as a Mathematician
'analyst and metaphysician' age 17 befriended and mentored by Mary Somerville, mathematician
age 19 married to William King (Earl of Lovelace), 3 kids
age 26 studied advanced mathematics with De Morgan
Ada’s Relationship with Babbage: Ada’s Relationship with Babbage
Charles Babbage Ada heard Babbage on Difference Machine at age 17
Ada immediately understood how it worked and saw potential
Ada and Babbage wrote lots of correspondence on mathematics, logic, and life during 18-year friendship
Ada and the Analytical Engine: Ada and the Analytical Engine 1841 Babbage gives seminar on engine in Italy
Babbage’s talk summarized and published in French by Menabrea, an Italian mathematician
1843, age 28 Ada translates work into English with her ' Notes '
Analytical Engine
Ada and Her Famous “Notes”: Ada and Her Famous 'Notes'
considered by most to be first-ever computer program
predicted future developments, including computer-generated music and graphics
In Ada’s Own Words...: In Ada’s Own Words... ' No one knows what power
lies yet undeveloped in that
wirey system of mine.
'
Ada’s Other Work?: Ada’s Other Work?
Ada aged 35 Ada regarded her Notes as her first mathematical publication
But unable work due to:
ill health
barriers to women
Died of cancer in 1852, age 36
Why Care About Ada?: Why Care About Ada?
Considered by most to have written first computer program
Anticipated multimedia use of computers
Pushed beyond stereo-typical roles for women
Ada’s Legacy: Ada’s Legacy Ada software programming language
The Ada Project
The Augusta Lovelace Award
others?
Ada Programming Manual
Ada in Time: Ada in Time 1641 Blaise Pascal develops one of first calculating machine
1824 Babbage conceptualizes Analytical Engine
1843 Ada publishes translation with Notes
1931 Vannevar Bush of MIT builds first modern analog computer
1946 ENIAC, the first digital computer, is built
1974 Military proposal for common high-order computer language
1975 1st iteration language ‘Strawman’; 2nd Woodenman
1978 Winning language selected
1980 Language is named Ada, in honour of Ada Lovelace
1984 Ada is trademark of US Dept of Defense
What Impressed Me the Most: What Impressed Me the Most
Her brilliance and ability to make intuitive leaps
Her spirit and ability to persevere in a male world
Resources on Ada: Resources on Ada
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Movie
Books
Web links
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